Senior Care in Columbia SC

Most seniors and their caregivers have probably heard that exercising regularly is one of the keys to great health.  Exercise can help people of all ages maintain a healthy weight, ward off chronic medical conditions, and have a happy mood.  It is especially important for seniors who are battling with bone and muscle loss which can put them at risk for falls and injuries.  Exercise can help seniors to strengthen those bones and muscles, making it easier for them to prevent and recover from serious injuries.  However, starting an exercise routine can be challenging and confusing both for seniors and their caregivers.  You may be wondering, how often should my senior loved one exercise?  At what intensity? And, what type of exercise should they do?  Your first resource for these and other questions should be your loved one’s doctor who can help you to design an exercise program for your loved one that is both healthy and doable.  Another great resource is a personal trainer at a local fitness club who can help your loved one to meet all of their exercise goals.  In addition to encouraging your loved one to exercise regularly, doctors and fitness professionals will probably suggest that your loved one does both aerobic exercise and resistance exercise.  Here’s why:

Aerobic Exercise

Aerobic exercise, or “cardio” is important for seniors to do on a regular basis.  Aerobic exercise includes jogging, swimming laps, cycling, and dancing and it will help seniors to get their heart rates up.  This type of exercise is great for heart and lung health, for burning calories, and for boosting energy.  Encourage your loved one to do about 2 and a half hours of moderate intensity aerobic exercise per week as long as it has been approved by their doctor.

Resistance Exercise

Resistance exercise, or strength training, is not just for body builders!  In fact, it is important for all adults to get some resistance training into their workout routine.  This is the type of exercise that can help seniors to fight bone and muscle loss and improve total body strength.  It is also an important type of exercise to practice regularly if weight loss is a goal.  For seniors who are new to resistance training, it is a great idea to meet with a personal trainer who can guide them and show them how to use all of the weights and machines.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring senior care in Columbia, SC, contact Heart of the Carolinas Home Care at 864-991-3116.  Providing Home Care Services in Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer, Anderson, Spartanburg, Mauldin, Seneca, Laurens, Charleston, Columbia and the surrounding areas.

Source:  http://www.webmd.boots.com/fitness-exercise/guide/cardio-vs-strength

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Edward Harrison

Founder at Heart of the Carolinas

Edward Harrison founded the Heart of the Carolinas Homecare in 2007 when he saw there was a need for caregivers that provide non-medical home care services, at a price that most people could afford. It was standard in the industry to require hourly minimums and it was common to be assigned a caregiver, not matched with one based on your individual personal needs. Edward understood that to make a successful relationship between caregiver and client, skills were not enough, personality and compatibility plays as much a role as do skills.

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